Vending-machine.



- PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

F. E. MAOOORDY.

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I PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

P. E. MAcGORDY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.16.1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

allf we? PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

F. B. MAGGORDY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED PEB.16.1905.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK, E. MAoCORDY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MAOCORDY CIGARVENDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed February 16, .1905. Serial No. 245,921.

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. MAoCoRDY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Vending-Machines, of which-the following is afull, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview through a vending mechanism constructed in accordance with myinvention, some of the parts being broken away to disclose the sectionalconstruction of the vending-drum. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of thedelivery mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the pusher-bar andthe locking-pawl, together with the pivoted cam carried by said pawl.Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views of the lockingpawl, illustrated as being indifferent positions with relation to the operating part of the slidingpusher-bar. Fig. 7 is a side elevational view ofthe coin-detectingmechanism. Fig. 8 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section,of the coin-detecting portion and a portion of the pusher-bar. Fig. 9 isa sectional view through the coin-detecting mechanism, showing theengagement of the detector with a slug of soft metal. Fig. 10 is asimilar view of the detector, showing a coin of proper denomination ashaving passed the detector. Fig. 11 is a rear perspective view of thebox-holder. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion ofthe vibratory table; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the cigar-buffer;and Fig. 14 is an end elevational view of the vending-drum, showingappropriate mechanism attached thereto.

This invention relates to a vending-machine adapted to vend cigars,cigarettes, lead-pencils, stick-candy, or similar articles; but it isparticularly designed for the vending of cigars.

One object is to provide means for holding cigar-boxes of dilferentsizesand to provide appropriate mechanism for agitating the cigars previousto being introduced into the vending-drum.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means to reducethe liability of the cigars becoming broken.

Another object is to provide means for necessitatinga full stroke of thepusher-bar before the vending mechanism may operate.

Other objects and advantages, as well as the novel details ofconstruction, will be more specifically referred to hereinafter, itbeing understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor detailsof construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofmy invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

The construction of vending-machine embodying the preferred form of myinvention includes a casing 1, preferably provided with a transparentfront panel 2, although the entire casing may be made of transparentmaterial, if desired. J ournaled in suitable bearings in the respectivesides of the casing 1 is a shaft 3, carrying a rotatable drum 4,provided with a plurality of pockets or grooves 5, each for thereception of a suitable articlesuch as a cigar, cigarette, &c. Thesepockets or grooves 5 'will ordinarily be of sufficient width to receivea single article; but in the event that it is contemplated to vend, say,six cigars for twenty-five cents each fifth pocket will be wide enoughor deep enough to receive two cigars, so that by inserting fivefive-cent pieces into the machine the proper number of cigars will bevended. The ratio of the double pockets may be varied to suit variousconditions, or they may be wholly eliminated, if desired.

Suitably arranged within the casing 1 is a box-support comprising aninclined bar 6, having a sliding extension 7 thereon with an upturnedend 8, having a spur to engage one end of the box to hold it inposition. The sliding extension 7 of the box-su pport may be held in anydetermined adjustment by means of the set-screw 9. I On the end of thebar 6 is a transversely-extending bar 10, having a rigid support and asliding support for the discharge end of the box. The rigid support(designated by the numeral 11) is provided with a shoulder 12, having alip 13. The bottom of the box will rest against this shoulder 12, andthe side thereof will be engaged by the lip 13. The sliding oradjustable support 11 is substantially the same in construction as theone designated by the numeral 11 and is provided with a shoulder 12 anda lip 13. The sliding support 11 is yieldingly connected to the support11 by a coil-spring 14, so that while the support 11 is movable awayfrom the one designated by the numeral 11 to accommodate boxes ofdifferent widths the spring will retract it so as to hold the box snuglyin the desired position.

Pivoted beneath the supports 11 and 11 is a vibratory table 15, which,in conjunction with the sides of the supports 11 and 11, constitutes ahopper into which the cigars are dumped preparatory to entering thepockets in the vending-drum 4.

Pivoted to the respective sides of the members 11 and 11 are gravitatingguide-segments 16 and 16*, which normally rest upon the vibratory table15, so as to prevent any of the cigars from moving sidewise through thehopper, said segments being adapted to vibrate with the table in anobvious manner.

Suitable mechanism is provided for actuating the drum, and thismechanism is illustrated as comprising a longitudinally-movablepusher-bar 17, arranged beneath the drum and carrying a projection 18 inan elongated slot 19 of the depending arm of the elbow-lever 20, whichlever is hung on the shaft 3 of the drum 4. The projecting end 21 of thedepending arm of the lever carries a pivoted spring-retracted dog 22,which is capable of engaging one of a plurality of teeth on the ratchet23, fixed with relation to the drum and carried by one end thereof. Thusit will be seen that by pushing the pusher-bar 17 inwardly its fullstroke the dog 22 will be caused to engage one of the teeth and therebyrotate the drum a suflEicient distance to cause one of.

agitate the cigars, so as to insure the desired number being introducedinto the respective pockets 5.

As heretofore stated, it is the purpose of this invention to make itimpossible to operate the mechanism unless a proper check,coin,

or token is inserted, and, further, to provide means whereby the vendingmechanism may not be operated unless the pusher-bar moves a full stroke.The mechanism for accomplishing this is clearly illustrated in thedrawings, and by reference to Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6 it will be observedthat 26 indicates a vertically-movable locking-bolt, having one endadapted for engagement with one of a plurality of openings 28, arrangedin circular series at one end of the drum. In order to rotate the drumthrough the medium of the pusherbar 17 and the dog 22, it is necessaryto retract the bolt 26, and the retraction of the bolt must beaccomplished before the dog 22 is movedin operative contact with theteeth of the ratchet 23. In order that the bolt 26 will be retracted atthe proper time, I provide a projection 29 on the bar 17, which isadapted to move'into engagement with the inclined face 30 of the pivotedeccentric 31, carried by the projection 32 on'the bolt 26. In Figs. 4,5, and 6 I have illustrated the dog and its eccentric in threepositions, the first showing the position of the projection 29 about tocontact with the inclined face 30 of the eccentric 31, preparatory todepressing the bolt 26 out of engagement with one of the openings 28. InFig. 5 the positions of the projection 29 and the bolt indicate that thebolt is out of engagement with one of the openings and the projection 29is about to pass beyond the eccentric 31. In Fig. 6 the projection 29 isillustrated as having passed beyond the eccentrio and is in position tobe retracted after the vending-drum has been operated. It will beobserved that a stop-pin 33 immediately beneath the free end of theeccentric 31 prevents a downward movement being imparted to theeccentric, and as the projection 29 passes over the eccentric in itsrearward sliding movement to operate the drum the bolt 26 will bedepressed. The spring 34 will have a tendency to force the bolt 26 intoengagement with a succeeding opening 28 as soon as the projection 29 haspassed beyond the end of the eccentric 31, and. the return movement ofthe projection 29 will raise the inclined portion 30 of the eccentric31, as indicated in Fig. 6; but as soon as the projection 29 hasv passedbeyond the lower end of the inclined portion 30 the spring 35 will bringthe eccentric back to its normal position, as indicated in Figs. 4 and5. Thus it will be apparent that a rearward movement of the pusher-bar17 will cause the bolt 26 to move out of looking engagement with thedrum and at the same time cause the drum to be actuated. so that one ofthe articles contained therein will be deposited into the delivery-chute24. It is to be understood that the retraction of the pusher-bar 17 isaccomplished by a retractingspring 17*, connected to the bar and to thecasing.

Means is provided whereby the detection of spurious coins may beeffected in a novel manner. By referring to Fig. 7 it will be observedthat an inclined chute 36 is provided which has an entrance-opening 37adjacent to the front of the machine. 38 indicates the discharge end ofthis chute 36, and intermediate the discharge end and the entrance endof the chute 36 is a by-pass or chute 39, adjacent to the juncture ofwhich with the chute 36 is a magnet 40, adapted to attract metal washersor disks capable of being magnetized, so that in the event that a washeror metal disk is inserted into the chute 36 it will be attracted intothe by-pass 39 and discharged into a delivery-chute 41 to be returned tothe person I 3 inserting it. Adjacent to the end of the dischargeportion 38 of the chute 36 is a pivoted hook-shaped detector 42, havinga sharpened edge 43 projecting through an opening in the side of thechute and an inclined end 44, as will be presently explained. Theweighted end 45 of this dectector 42 is arranged at one side of thefulcrum of the detector, so that the tendency of the hooked portionthereof will be to remain within the chute. If a coin of soft metal,such as lead or the like, and of the proper size or otherwise isinserted into the opening 37, it will not be attracted by the magnet 40,but will pass into the dischargechute 38 and upon coming in contact withthe sharp edge 43 will stop. If the pusherbar 17 is thenmovedrearwardly, this spurious coin will be moved into a pivotedarcuate-shaped switch-chute .46 and pass into the delivery-chute 41, soas to be accessible from the exterior of the machine. If a coin, check,or token of the proper denomination is inserted into the opening 37, itwill pass beyond the magnet 40 and into the chute 38, and upon coming incontact with the detector 42 it will force the hooked end of saiddetector out of the slot in the chute 38, as indicated in Fig. 10, andthe coin will rest upon the floor 47 thereof. This will be its designedposition for the proper operation of the machine, and a rearwardmovement of the bar 17 will cause the arcuate-shaped chute 46 to rise,as indicated in Fig. 8, and instead of the coin being introduced intothe delivery-chute 41 it will pass into the bottom of the easing into areceptacle or onto the floor, as the case may be. The rising of thischute 46 will permit the bar 17 to be moved its full stroke. At allother times said bar will engage with the side of the detector 42 andthe actuation of the machine will be prevented. It is to be understood,of course, that the detector 42 will not pass out of the chute 38 unlessa coin of proper weight is inserted. Therefore in order that the machinemay be operated three essentials are requiredfirst, that the coin be ofthe proper size; second, that it be of a metal hard enough not to beengaged by the edge 43, and, third, that it is not capable of beingmagnetized. While the chutemember 46 is capable of being raised by thecoin so that the coin will pass into the receptacle rather than into thedelivery-chute 41, said chute member 46 will be promptly retracted toits original position by means of the spring 48 as soon as the coin hasbeen moved away from the floor 47.

In Fig. 13 I have illustrated a buffer against which the cigars areadapted to abut after they leave the cigar-box and while they are in thehopper. This buffer comprises a bar 49, having a plurality of resilientfingers 50, which project downwardly and possess a sufficient yieldingtendency to prevent the wrappers of the cigars from being broken. Thebar 49 is provided with slots 51, through which fastening devices 52project to secure the buffer to the casing.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vending-machine, a rotatable drum, a vertically-movable boltadapted to intermittently engage said drum and having a pivoted camthereon, a pusher-bar having means for rotating the drum and providedwith a projection adapted to" move over the top of the cam during itsactuating stroke and to pass beneath the cam during its return stroke,and means for returning the pusher-bar; substantially as described.

2. In a vending-machine, the combination with a delivery mechanism, of adevice normally engaging the delivery part of the mechanism to preventmovement thereof, said device having a pivoted cam thereon, a pusherbarhaving means for actuating the delivery part of the delivery mechanism,and means for engagement with the cam to move the locking device out ofengagement with the delivery part before the actuating part on thepusher-bar may operate the delivery part; substantially as described.

3. In a vending-machine, the combination with a rotatable drum havingratchet-teeth thereon, of-a vibratory table adjacent to the drum, anelbow-leverwhose fulcrum is in axial alinement with the drum, said leverhaving one end adapted to contact with the table to impart a vibratorymotion thereto, the other part of said lever having an opening therein,and a pusherbar in engagement with the opening and carrying a pawl forengagement with the ratchet-teeth whereby a movement of said pusher-barto actuate the drum will cause one part of the lever to contact with thevibratory table; substantially as described.

4. In a vending-machine, the combination with a rotatable drum havingpockets therein, of a box-holder comprising two resilientlyconnectedparts having shoulders to receive a box portion, a vibratory tablebeneath the boxholder, a drum-actuating means, and means actuated by thedrum-actuating means for vibrating the table; substantially asdescribed.

5. In a vending-machine, a box-holder comprising a bar having anextension end, a hop-,

per at one end of the bar whose sides are resiliently connected, avibratory table forming the bottom of the hopper, and a rotatable drumadapted to receive articles from the hopper; substantially as described.

6. In a vending-machine, a box-holder comprising a bar having anextension end, a hopper at one end of the bar whose sides areresiliently connected, a vibratory table forming the bottom of thehopper, a rotatable drum adapted to receive articles from the hopper, asliding bolt for intermittently engaging the drum to prevent itsrotation, and a pusherbar having means for releasing the bolt fromengagement with the drum; substantially as described.

7. In a vending-machine, a box-holder comprising a bar having anextension end, a hopper at one end of the bar Whose sides areresiliently connected, a vibratory table forming the bottom of thehopper, a rotatable drum adapted to receive articles from the hopper, asliding bolt for intermittently engaging the drum to prevent itsrotation, a pusher-bar having means for releasing the bolt fromengagement with the drum, and a ratchet mechanism controlled by thepusher-bar for rotating the drum when the bolt is not in engagementtherewith; substantially as described.

8. In a vending-machine, the combination with a rotatable drum, of meansfor introducing articles to be vended into the recesses in the drum,including a vibratory table, an elbow-lever whose fulcrum is in axialalinement with thedrum, one arm of said elbow-lever being capable ofengagement with the vibra tory table, a projection on the other end ofthe lever, a spring-pressed pawl carried by said projection, ratchets onthe drum adapted to be engaged by said pawl, and a pusher-bar connectedto the last-named arm of the lever and having movement to cause thespringpressed pawl to engage the ratchets on the drum; substantially asdescribed.

9. In a vending-machine, the combination with a rotatable drum havingpockets therein, of a bufier immediately above the drum, a hopper havinga vibratory bottom, pivoted guide-segments carried by the sides of thehopper and resting upon the table, means for actuating the drum, andmeans for vibrating the table; substantially as described.

10. In a vending-machine, a box-support comprisingalongitudinally-arranged bar having a sliding extension at one end, atransverse bar at the other end, a hopper whose sides are carried bysaid transverse bar, one of said sides being slidable toward and awayfrom the other, and a delivery device adapted to receive articles fromsaid hopper; substantially as described.

11. In a vending-machine, the combination With a delivery part, of asliding bolt normally in engagement with said part to pre vent movementthereof, a projection on said bolt, a pivoted cam carried by saidprojection, a stop on which said cam rests, a sliding bar for actuatingthe delivery part and having a projection movable across one face of thecam to cause the release of the bolt from engagement with the deliverypart, said projection passing beneath the cam on the return stroke ofthe pusher-bar, and means carried by the pusher-bar for actuating thedelivery part; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature,in the presence oftwo witnesses, this 9th day of February, 1905.

FRANK E. MAOOORDY.

WVitnesses:

FRED .S. ABRAHAM, FRANK L. HALL.

